Bedclothes support and arch protector



Dec. 31, 1929;

F. G. DOYLE BED CLOTHES SUPPORT AND ARCH PROTECTOR Filad Sept. 28. 1927 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 PATENT OFFICE FRANCES G. DOYLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BEDCLOTHES SUPPORT AND ARCH PROTECTOR Application filed September 28, 1927. Serial No. 222,613.

This invention relates to a new and improved bed clothes support especially adapted for use as a surgical appliance, and as a bedtime arch protector.

In cases of fracture of the limbs when under medical treatment, and in many other cases, particularly in afllictions of the addominal regions, it is frequently desirable, and in many intances necessary to relieve the patient of the weight of the bed clothes,

which might otherwlse injuriously affect the parts. In addltion many persons, partrcularly when not in good health experlence considerable discomfort from the weight of the bed clothes which induces restlessness as well as considerable discomfort arising fromcontact with the bed clothing which may have become saturated with perspiration.

Furthermore, I have discovered that the continual weight of the bed clothing on the feet even on well persons, tends to weaken the arch of the foot causing fallen arches,

I and in some cases has been known to produce insomnia.

Also in many cases of sickness it is desirable or necessary to subject portions of the body to the influence of heat from a hot water bag or cold from an ice bag either of which is of considerable weight when borne by an afflicted part of the body and consequently it is highly desirable that such objects be brought into contact with or proximity to the body in such a way as to relieve the body of their weight. I

Accordingly, a primary object of the pres ent invention is the provision of a convenient device adapted to hold bed clothing elevated above any desired part of the body of the occupant of a bed thereby relieving the weight of the bed clothing from the body without detracting in the least from the necessary protection from colds or drafts, and which is i especially useful in relieving the feet ofthe weight of covering, in this way serving as an effective protector of the foot muscles and arches during repose in a bed.

Another object of this invention is thepro vision of a bed clothing support which is readily adapted to be shifted to different positions relative to the bed whereby the bed body without-subjecting said part to the full weight thereof.

A still further object of my invention is v the provision of a bed-clothing support which is adjustable, adapting it to'varlous sized beds as well as capable, of being readily collapsed on the bed allowing the clothing to assume a flat mattress engaging position to permit neat draping of the bed when not in use, or whereby the support may be removed and collapsed for storing purposes.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a bed clothing support which is comparatively simple in construction and capable of being manufactured at relatively low cost. v a

WVith these objects in view, as well as such others as will become apparent from the following disclosure, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, and in which .7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bedclothing support in operative position with a hot water or ice bag support shown in position.

Figure 2 is an end view of the support in a folded or collapsed position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the securing devices embodied in my invention and Figure 4 is a perspective View partially broken away disclosing my invention in position on a bed supporting the clothing above adapted to extend transversely of the bed B and support the clothing therefrom.

Each member comprises a rod 11 and a tubular member 12 telescopically engaged therewith. Rods 11 and tubular member 12 are provided at their outer ends with pivot supports 13. Below the members 10 and in vertical alignment therewith is a pair of flexible bed engaging members 14 adapted to extend transversely of the bed between the springs and mattress thereof as shown in Figure 4.

Each member 14 comprises a pair of comparatively short terminal rod members 15 connected at their adjacent ends by means of a suitable chain 16, each chain being provided with a snap hook connector 17 whereby the chain can be adjusted in length for different width beds. Each member 15 is provided with a pivot support 18. The opposite ends of the members 10 and 14 are connected by a pair of foldable legs 19 each of which comprises a pair of intersecting members 20. Each member 20 embodies a central pivot member 21 and oppositely extending nonalignedrods 22.

The pivot members 21 of each pair of members 20 are pivotally connected as at 23 and the outer ends of the rods 22 are provided with pivot members 24.

Extending between the outer ends of the members 10 and 14 and the rods 22 and disposed at right angles to members 10 and 1.4 are comparatively short telescopically adjustable members 25 each of which comprises a rod 26 and a tubular member 27 telescopically connected therewith.

The outer ends of the rods 26 and tubular members 27 are provided with pivot members :28, which with the pivot members 24 are pivotally connected on the ends of the pivot supports 13 and 18 by means of suitable pivots 29.

All of the above described telescopic rods and tubular members are provided with equally spaced perforations 30, those in the rods adapted to register with those in the tubular members when an adjustment is completed, and the rod and tubular member of each telescopically adjustable member are held in fixed relation by means of a pin (Figure 3) 31 engaging in a pair of aligned apertures in the rod and tubular member.

The pin 31 is rigidly supported at the head thereof in the central arch potionof a resilient clip member 32 adapted to yileldably engage a tubular member as shown in Figure 1 and each pin and clip member is secured to its respective tubular member by a short length of chain 33 one end of which engages the head of the pin and the other end of which is secured to the tubular member.

The members 10 which support the bed clothes are furtherutilized to support a suitable hammock'34 in which may be supported the hot water or ice bag to be brought into proximity to the body of the occupant of the bed.

The hammock 84 may conveniently be sus pended from the members 10 by means of detachable hook members 35 adapted to engage either the rods or tubular members. By this means the hook members can be spaced at any point and thus alter the position of the hammock at will.

It will readily be seen that the support can be lengthened or shortened to suit beds of various widths by telescopically lengthening or shortening the members 10 and correspondingly lengthening or shortening the members 14 by engaging the snap hooks 1.7 with different links of the chain 16. Furthermore the support can be readily adjusted in height to support-the covers,or hammock suspended therefrom at any desired'elevation by shortening or lengthening the members 25, permitting the members 20 of the legs 19 to pivot about the pivot points 23.

lVhen it is desired to remove the support it can be readily folded or collapsed as shown in Figure 2, adapting it to be stored away in a small space. Furthermore as will be obvious from the collapsible nature of the device, it can be left on the bed and collapsed, the members 10 coming into contact with the members 14 allowing the bed clothes to assume a flat or normal position permitting draping of the bed covers in neat manner when the bed is unoccupied.

As is clearly shown in Figure 4, the support is adapted to be positioned on the bed with the flexible members 14 extending between the mattress and springs and it is important that the members 15 be comparatively short to engage only the opposite edges of the bed spring with the chains extending practically the full width of the springs in order not to affect the fiexibility,'or yielding of the springs. The support as can be seen from Figure 4, can readily be positioned at different points lengthwise of the bed in order to elevate the clothes above any desired part of the body. Furthermore, the members 10 can be raised or lowered by adjusting the end members to suspend the bed clothing at any desired height above the body of the occupant of the bed.

By utilizing the members 10 to support a hammock as shown, the hammock can be raised or lowered in'the adjustment of the support whereby a hot water bag or ice bag suspended within the hammock can be brought into proximity to the body without subjecting the body to the weight thereof.

While I have disclosed a single embodiment of my inventiomit is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but contemplates as within its scope such changes or alterations as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Accordingly, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bed-clothing support comprising a clothing engaging portion, a bed engaging portion and legs connecting said portions, said bed engaging portion comprising rigid terminal members adapted to engage the springs at the opposite sides thereof and chains connecting said end members adapted to extend across the springs, and means for adjusting the lengths of said chains.

2. A bed-clothing support comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally adjustable clothing engaging members, a pair of longitudinally adjustable members pivotally connected to the ends of said first members, a pair of flexible adjustable bed-engaging members, a pair longitudinally adjustable members pivotally connected to the ends of said last named members, and intersecting pivotally connected leg members having the ends thereof pivotally connected to the ends of said clothing and bed engaging members.

8. A bed clothing support comprising a clothing supporting portion, a bed engaging portion, a folding structure interconnecting the said two portions; said bed engaging portion comprising rigid end sections secured to said folding structure, and flexible means connecting said end sections to prevent separation thereof without detracting from the resilience of the bed.

4. In a bed clothing support adapted to be mounted upon a bed solely by permitting it to rest upon the springs thereof, an elongated clothing supporting structure, and means for varying the length of said structure, bed engaging end portions disposed below the ends of said structure, substantially upright members connecting said end portions with the ends of said clothing supporting structure to maintain the latter in superposed relationship, fiexible means interconnecting said end portions to prevent separa- 1 tion thereof without detracting from the resilience of the bed, and means for adjusting the length of said flexible means.

5. In a device of the character described, a bed engaging portion, a clothing supporting portion, means for mounting said supportmg portion in superposed relation to said engaging portion in order to permit the body of a patient to lie between said portions, and means for suspending a therapeutical device or the like from said clothing support-ing por-' tion, said suspending means including means for adjusting it to vary the proximity of such therapeutical device to the body of the patient.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANCES G. DOYLE. 

